I'm glad I could help Cammiecam! Try using the coconut oil before you even put the henna in and it should moisturize and help prevent some tangling. Some will still be there after you rinse the henna out or you can add a little more.

I use less than 100g of henna for each treatment when I mix and I use probably 350g+ of water in my mix and I have never experienced dryness from henna.

I really think that people think I am full of hot air but it I can see how much the henna absorbs water as I am mixing. A lot of substances can't take having that much liquid added to them but henna soaks it up and swells. I think that if you don't use a lot of water and especially if you coat your hair with a thick henna paste than the henna draws the water from your hair.

It is popular to add oils, conditioners, and other things to prevent dryness but isn't water the ultimate moisture? Give it a try!

I'm sitting here with my DC after my second henna. I've never seen or felt my hair look like this before. It's shiny, it's clumpy, the curl has loosened a bit more... it's fabulous! I didn't do the two step this time, just straight henna. I used the henna for African hair this time, mixed it in the same way I did the first batch, (The Curly Nikki way, except I used regular tea bags instead of green tea and added a dash of lemon juice), slapped it on and slept overnight. Rinsed and cowashed with TJ's Nourish Spa and am DC-ing actually with the controversial ORS Replenishing Pak. I decided to do that because my hair although thick, the strands of hair are VERY thin and in the two weeks since my first henna I've experienced breakage that I think has to do with a protein moisture balance. I wanted moisture after the henna, but also a tiny bit of strengthening protein and the ORS Replenishing Pak is exactly what I need. I know there are some other ingredients in there as well, cones and such, but I'm gonna see how my hair reacts to those products and adjust accordingly if I need to. And of course I'll moisturize well.

vkb I decided not to add coconut oil to my hair prior to applying the henna because I applied it on dry hair. My hair had been up all week in flat twists moisturized with BRBC and KCCC, so I just took the twists down, parted my hair in four sections, sprayed my hair until damp using a spray bottle with just pain water, and went to work. The process was smooth, tangle free, and my hair appreciated the low manipulation.

I'm sitting here with my DC after my second henna. I've never seen or felt my hair look like this before. It's shiny, it's clumpy, the curl has loosened a bit more... it's fabulous! I didn't do the two step this time, just straight henna. I used the henna for African hair this time, mixed it in the same way I did the first batch, (The Curly Nikki way, except I used regular tea bags instead of green tea and added a dash of lemon juice), slapped it on and slept overnight. Rinsed and cowashed with TJ's Nourish Spa and am DC-ing actually with the controversial ORS Replenishing Pak. I decided to do that because my hair although thick, the strands of hair are VERY thin and in the two weeks since my first henna I've experienced breakage that I think has to do with a protein moisture balance. I wanted moisture after the henna, but also a tiny bit of strengthening protein and the ORS Replenishing Pak is exactly what I need. I know there are some other ingredients in there as well, cones and such, but I'm gonna see how my hair reacts to those products and adjust accordingly if I need to. And of course I'll moisturize well.

vkb I decided not to add coconut oil to my hair prior to applying the henna because I applied it on dry hair. My hair had been up all week in flat twists moisturized with BRBC and KCCC, so I just took the twists down, parted my hair in four sections, sprayed my hair until damp using a spray bottle with just pain water, and went to work. The process was smooth, tangle free, and my hair appreciated the low manipulation.

So yeah. It's a go. I'm officially a henna head.

Originally Posted by cammiecam

AWESOME!!! I'm so glad you have had a positive experience to replace the last time! I finally got my henna from Mountain Rose and it is far superior to the Raibnow henna. I am not surprised, considering the negative reviews on Rainbow henna that I've seen here. I did my second full henna treatment with the mountain rose henna and the results were amazing. My grays are now a fabulous deep coppery red, my hair is so soft I can't stop touching it, and I've gotten 3rd and fourth day curls!!! I had to talk myself out of doing a midweek treatment. I am definitely hooked!
FYI: on the Experiences with Alma thread there is a list of other herbs you can use with or without henna. I have decided to add alma, hibiscus and brahmi ( aka gotu kola ) to my mix for added stregth, growth and curl pop. I will report on results later!

I've been reading through this thread (the entire thread) for the last two weeks and I must say you guys are reaaaaaaallllly convincing. I was in New York last weekend visiting friends and lucked up on some Jamila at an Indian grocery in Midtown, so I have two boxes ($1.99/ea: that's pretty good, right?) sitting in my bathroom just waiting to be used.

My hair is super short, a teeny weeny afro, so how much do you think I should use? And how much water to ACV? Should I just use ACV for dye release then add water when I'm ready to apply? And how long should it sit out? I want to mix it today and apply it tomorrow.

Edit: Also, my hair is more 4b than 4a, what effects do you think henna'll have on its texture? I want it to be clumpy and curly (or, you know, as curly as possible with its length), do you think henna will help?

I've been reading through this thread (the entire thread) for the last two weeks and I must say you guys are reaaaaaaallllly convincing. I was in New York last weekend visiting friends and lucked up on some Jamila at an Indian grocery in Midtown, so I have two boxes ($1.99/ea: that's pretty good, right?) sitting in my bathroom just waiting to be used.

My hair is super short, a teeny weeny afro, so how much do you think I should use? And how much water to ACV? Should I just use ACV for dye release then add water when I'm ready to apply? And how long should it sit out? I want to mix it today and apply it tomorrow.

Edit: Also, my hair is more 4b than 4a, what effects do you think henna'll have on its texture? I want it to be clumpy and curly (or, you know, as curly as possible with its length), do you think henna will help?

Originally Posted by zerbit

Welcome to henna madness!!!LOL!If you have a TWA, you could get away with 2-3 oz (75-100 grams). Put 2 tbsp of ACV. Then add hot water while stirring until you get mashed potato consistency. Let sit until you see dye release ( anywhere from a few minutes to up to 12 hours, depending on your dye!). Then slap that stuff on your head and leave it on for a minimum of 4 hours. Most of the ladies here leave it on overnight, up to twelve hours.I have left it on twelve hours, eight hours, or 4 hours with one of those 4 hours under a heat cap. I've had great results every time. By the way, I would add some olive oil (2-4 tbsp) or whatever your favorite oil is to the mix. It helps combat dryness.Happy henna-ing!!!(P.S. If you have left overs, stick it in the fridge and mix it together with conditioner at a later date and use it for a gloss)

Thanks mermade love! Should I leave it out on my counter or stick it in the fridge? I don't want it to go bad =\

Originally Posted by zerbit

Leave it out on the counter! Someplace warm-- it helps with the dye release. If you have leftovers, stick them in the fridge for up to a week. If you want to save it beyond that, freeze it for up to six months.
Bonne chance!!! (Good luck)

You don't need to wash before applying if you don't want to. I did the first time, but yesterday I just dampened my hair with water in a spray bottle and the results were still great. Washing before henna is optional. If you do decide to wash beforehand don't let it dry completely but I do recommend squeezing the excess water out otherwise your henna will be drippy.

This time I used the henna for African hair (usually I use Jamila 2008 but I wanted to try something new. I also used lemon juice/water instead of tea or amla as my acid.

I think I may stick with the henna for African hair. It was wayyyy easier to rinse and apply than Jamila IMO. Didn't notice much of a color change and I don't care anyway. But my hair is always looking great post-henna. A little looser, it seems but it goes back to normal within a week. I've notice my curls clump better and improved definition.

Just wanted to share these pics. The first one is before I ever used henna. The second is from my third henna and the last one is from my 5th henna, which was done last night!

I agree re Jamila I used it purchased on 28th and Lexington in NYC like Zerbit and it seemed a bit harder to rinse out and the color wasn't fabulous. Perhaps my expectations were too high?

I've been using henna for the last 18 months and I have ordered online and used boxes from indian markets; both work fine. Color deposit may have been a bit stronger from online purchase which was from henna from Yemen.